When they found out that the 2011 Ranelagh Arts Festival had been cancelled (sadface), Cracked Light Productions Dublin’s newest theatre company, decided to put on a free performances of Romeo & Juliet with a 32 member professional cast in the Ranelagh Gardens. They raised an amazing €3000 through the most excellent Fund It (a new all-island crowdfunding website for Ireland’s creative projects, giving everyone the power to help good ideas happen.) to cover the production costs. When the Iveagh Gardens found out what the group where doing they donated the use of their park too. Norman & Brown hair salon in Ranelagh has offered to donate hair and make-up services. Amazon Landscaping has offered help with flowers and plants for set dressing. No doubt by the time I publish this blog many more peeps and local businesses will have thrown their helping hand into the ring.

Cracked Light Productions is a not for profit theatre company. Both the producers and director of Romeo & Juliet are donating their time, talents and resources to this event and will not be paid for their work. The production it's self is meant to be "unplugged" so there will be no sound system, no lights, no mics, no electricity and nothing artificial.

So that’s Romeo & Juliet for FREE in Dublin – Ranelagh Gardens (behind Superquinn) from August 9 to 14 and the Iveagh Gardens from 17 to 21, 7pm weeknights and 3pm at weekends.

Directions: Take the LUAS to the Ranelagh stop, go under the overpass and go through the arch into the Gardens. Walk to the other end of the park and Ta Da your there. Bring a blanket, some snacks and remember clean up any mess you make before you leave. Find Cracked Light Productions on Facebook for more info.